My Genealogy Hound

Jefferson Lemmon, M. D., one of the successful practicing physicians of Polk County, Mo., was born in Looney Township, Polk County, December 24, 1846, and is the son of John S. and Permelia (Wallace) Lemmon. The maternal grandfather, David Wallace, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and the maternal great-grandfather, William Wallace, was a native of England, and served in the Revolutionary War. John S. Lemmon and wife were born in Kentucky in 1811, the former born in Barren County, and the latter in Christian County. When about eleven years of age, each moved to Henry County, Tenn., with their parents, and there they were married when but eighteen years of age. The same year, 1828, they moved to Missouri, locating where Springfield now is, though there was no sign of a town there then, only the remains of a deserted Indian village, and remained there until 1832, when they moved to this county, and here the mother still lives. Mr. Lemmon was farmer, stock-raiser and miller, and was a very successful business man. He is a Democrat in politics. During the war he went South with his property, and was never heard from again. When first settling in Missouri, they were obliged to go to Boonville to trade, and experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. Mrs. Lemmon is a member of the Baptist Church. She is the mother of fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to be grown. She has over 100 direct descend ants. Her son, Dr. Jefferson Lemmon, assisted his father on the farm and in the mill, and received his education in the common school, also a term in the high-school at Springfield. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fifth Missouri Confederate Volunteers, and served two years. He then became hospital steward of Cherokee Artillery, and his brother was surgeon. There he gained his first knowledge of medicine. Having returned, he studied medicine under his two elder brothers, and in 1874 entered Missouri Medical College and took one course of lectures, after which he located at Walnut Grove, Greene County, and practiced until 1878-79, when he took another course at the same school, and graduated in the last named year. He then returned to his old location and practiced until 1880, when he went to Texas. Three years later he came to Morrisville, where he has had a good practice since, and to which he has exclusively devoted his time. He is a member of the Polk County Medical Society, of the Southwest District Medical Association, and was president of the former one term. For a companion in life he chose Miss Mary M. Anderson, a daughter of Nathaniel Anderson, one of the old teachers of the county. By this union seven children were born: Clara S., Waldo N., Laura L., Emma T., Mollie J., Bennie S. and Arthur E. Dr. Lemmon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife of the Christian Church. He belongs to the following organizations: Masonic fraternity, Odd Fellows and the A. O. U. W. Dr. Lemmon has practiced his profession in this county for sixteen years, and has had excellent success.